Physint – Hideo Kojima Explains Return to Action-Espionage Genre

Kojima Productions is working on Death Stranding 2, which will launch for PS5 next year. Along with developing OD for Xbox Game Studios, it also has a new title in the works with Sony called Physint. Announced at the recent State of Play as a “next-generation action espionage game,” it’s a new IP that serves as an interactive game while also being a movie.

On the latest episode of HideoTube, director Hideo Kojima reiterated, “It will be both a game and a movie at the same time. That’s why we were at Sony Pictures. A new action espionage game. Of course, it will be a game. However, if your mother walks in and sees you playing this game, she’ll think you’re watching a movie. I’m not sure how far we can take it yet.”

However, what motivated the Metal Gear Solid creator to return to the genre? “Well first off, because I became independent, I wanted to do something new with my own IP. So, to challenge myself, I first made Death Stranding. Then, to create a franchise, I made Death Stranding 2. And I wanted to do something even newer, so I started working on OD.

“And since then, there have been a lot of new ideas. But in the last eight years, every day on social media, from users all around the world, people have been asking me to create another Metal Gear and stuff like that.”

However, in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kojima fell ill. On top of being isolated, he also had surgery. “And I thought, ‘I can’t anymore.’ I was at my lowest and felt like I couldn’t go back to making games. I wrote a will, too. And in that moment, I realized that people die. But, I turned 60 last year. I’ll turn 70 in ten years. I hope to never retire.

“Having said that, if the users desire it so much, I thought I should change my priorities a bit. I still want to do new things, but I decided to make an action-espionage game.”

While it’s good news for Metal Gear fans, it’ll be a while before Physint launches. Kojima revealed during the State of Play that while preparations were underway, production would begin “in earnest” after Death Stranding 2’s release. Utilizing cutting-edge tech and worldwide talent, the developer hopes to “transcend the barriers between film and video games.” Stay tuned for more updates in the coming years.

In the meantime, check out our analysis of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s trailer here.